Sandigan justice who convicted Erap among top choices for vacant SC seat

MANILA, Philippines — A Sandiganbayan associate justice who convicted deposed President Joseph Estrada for plunder was among the Supreme Court’s top choices for the seat vacated by retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna. Associate Justice Francisco Villaruz Jr. emerged in the short list of the highest court along with Court of Appeals Associate Justices Martin Villarama Jr. and Lucas Bersamin in a voting during a full-bench meeting on Tuesday, said SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez All three got nine votes each, Marquez said. He said Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) Presiding Justice Ernesto Acosta got six votes and CA Associate Justices Hakim Abdulwahid, Remedios Salazar-Fernando, Portia Alino-Hormachuelos and lawyer Rodolfo Robles got four votes each. Former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Mario Bunag got three votes, while CA Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, Ateneo Law Dean Cesar Villanueva and UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean each got two votes. Marquez said the recommendation of the SC would have a weight on the Judial and Bar Council’s (JBC) deliberation for its short list of nominees. President Arroyo had earlier appointed in the SC Associate Justices Teresita De Castro and Diosdado Peralta, who were members of the Sandiganbayan Special Division along with Villaruz, which tried and convicted Estrada for plunder. The JBC, which screens nominees for the judiciary, is set to come up with its short list next week and submit it to President Arroyo. - GMANews.TV